The victory over Miami is an afterthought. What lies ahead is all that matters for New England.

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The Patriots' path to the Super Bowl is far less treacherous now. They host a playoff game in two weeks and conceivably can host the AFC Championship Game if the Denver Broncos stumble. If the Broncos don't stumble, the prospect of Peyton Manning facing Tom Brady in the AFC title bout looms on the horizon as a possibility.